Clare Drake is one of UBC Kinesiology’s most acclaimed graduates. A native of Saskatchewan, Clare, in 1947, chose to come to UBC because of its newly-created Kinesiology program – the first such program in Western Canada. For four years Drake was a star Thunderbird hockey player playing on some very good teams including the 1949/50 team that is inducted into the UBC Sports Hall of Fame. Following his graduation from UBC in 1951 Drake completed several post-graduate degrees before establishing himself as a hockey player and later coach and Kinesiology professor at the University of Alberta.
Beginning in 1958, Drake’s U of A coaching career would become “legendary.” He coached the Golden Bears hockey team to sixteen Canada West championships and six CIS national titles, recording a total of 622 victories. He was the first university coach in Canadian history to record 500 victories and it is reported he is the winningest coach in the history of North American university hockey. Drake coached Canada’s entry in the Aherne Cup to gold in 1965, the FISU Games team to gold in 1981 and coached Canada to its first Spengler Cup European tournament championship in 1984.
Drake also coached professional hockey as the Edmonton Oilers called upon his services as head coach for three years and later the Winnipeg Jets as an assistant coach for three seasons. He also, co-coached, with Father David Bauer, Canada’s hockey team at the 1980 Olympics.
For three years Alberta’s football team was also the beneficiary of Drake’s coaching and in 1967 he guided it to a Vanier Cup victory, thereby becoming the only coach to win both a CIS football and hockey championship.
One of the “deans” of Canadian university coaches, Drake has authored several hockey coaching articles and has received honours from the CIS, CHA and the University of Alberta whose hockey arena bears his name. He is an inductee in the Alberta Provincial Hall of Fame and in 1989 was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. We can say the roots of this impressive resume can be traced back to UBC.
Written by Fred Hume, UBC Historian
Norm Watt was one of the originals, that is, a member of UBC’s first graduating class in Physical Education (Kinesiology) back in 1949. He was also an athlete and although not tall, was a notable basketball player and played Varsity Thunderbird basketball during the late 1940s.
In 1961 after attaining his Masters and PhD, Norm returned to UBC to join the Faculty of Education and was appointed director of Extra-Sessional Studies. It was at this time he pioneered a ground-breaking program for seniors that became known as the Third Age Spring Lecture Series. The first of its kind, it became the blueprint for similar programs at universities across North America.
Norm was also a coach – guiding the UBC Junior Varsity basketball team to national championships in 1966 and 1967 and was coach of the UBC men’s Varsity volleyball team that won the provincial championship in 1968. However, perhaps his most accomplished coaching achievement is his association with the Dueck Powerglides wheelchair basketball team – a team inducted into both the BC Sports Hall of Fame and Basketball BC Hall of Fame.
Norm will always be remembered by his friends and family as the architect of countless campus and community charity activities, many off-beat and fun. For his innovative educational and charity work Norm was awarded the President’s Service Award in 1991 and the UBC Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999 which he shared with his compatriot Norm Young.
Written by Fred Hume, UBC Historian
Brian Budd, a 1975 UBC Physical Education (Kinesiology) graduate, has a most amazing story. Born in Toronto but growing up in Delta, Brian was an all-around athlete entering UBC in 1970. In his first two years at UBC Budd swam for the Thunderbird swim team under coach Jack Pomfret. In his second year he focused on soccer and for four years played on the Thunderbird soccer team. In fact in 1974, Budd scored the winning goal in the CIS final game giving UBC the national soccer championship.
Budd pursued a career in soccer following his graduation from UBC, playing for seven professional teams between 1974 and 1981 including five seasons with the Vancouver Whitecaps in addition to two years with Canada’s national team.
It was in 1977 Budd entered and won his first of three consecutive Canadian “Superstars” competitions. This was a competition involving the country’s best athletes in sporting events other than those of their profession or specialty. Winning three straight earned Budd a spot in the “World Superstars” competition which during the 1970s and 1980s was a popular ABC television production.
Budd continued to win, impressively, besting outstanding pro and amateur athletes from the US and around the world. It was after the third consecutive victory by this “unknown” Canadian that ABC TV Sports implemented a rule stating a competitor could win only three times. This was referred to as the “Budd Rule” eliminating him from further “World Superstars” competition. Budd felt ABC wanted him removed from the show because he was not well known to the American TV audience.
To a degree Budd faded from the scene after his brush with fame although he did serve as a soccer analyst in Toronto during the 2000’s until his sudden passing in 2008 at age 56. But for a time during the early 1980s UBC and Kinesiology could lay claim to the “world’s greatest athlete.”
Written by Fred Hume, UBC Historian
The late Dr. Barbara Schrodt (1929-2020) had the distinction of being one of a select group of UBC Physical Education (Kinesiology) graduates to be inducted as an individual into both the UBC and British Columbia Sports Halls of Fame.
A 1951 graduate, ‘Bim’ was considered a true ‘Builder’ as a teacher, coach, historian and director of women’s athletics at UBC. ‘Bim’ played field hockey and swam for UBC during the late 1940’s, then while teaching in the School of Kinesiology (then Physical Education) she coached the UBC women’s field hockey team for eighteen years. Dr. Schrodt guided the Blue & Gold to six Canada West championships in her eight years in which UBC competed in the Western Canadian League. Her teams’ stellar record was passed on to her successor, Gail Wilson, as was a prized tradition, one that even today has a special place in UBC history.
In 1957/58 ‘Bim’ began to lay the foundation for the women’s athletic program at UBC. For the next six years, she served as Women’s Athletic Director, helping to develop opportunities for women.
Bim’s passion for field hockey saw her establish the BC Women’s Field Hockey Federation in 1966, when she drafted its constitution. She developed a handbook of regulations and procedures after which the national level was modelled. She was president of the Vancouver Women’s Field Hockey Association and founding director of the Canadian Women’s Field Hockey Association. Her early efforts led to the establishment of a national umpiring certification still used today. All of these roles and actions had a lasting impact on the sport in this province and country.
She coached the gold medal BC Team at the 1973 Canada Games and umpired at four consecutive world championships. Dr. Schrodt launched the first publication on women’s field hockey, “Field Hockey for Women,” and edited the Canadian Women’s Field Hockey Rules and Umpiring Guide. Her teams’ celebrated record was passed on to her successor, Gail Wilson, and continues to hold a special place in UBC history. She completed her PhD in Physical Education in 1979 at the University of Alberta.
Over the 40 plus years as a UBC player, coach, administrator and teacher it has been the game of field hockey, women’s athletics and students who were the beneficiaries of the work and dedication of Dr. Schrodt.
Dave MacFarlane is another example of the diversity in career paths taken by UBC graduates in Physical Education (Kinesiology).
A 1989 graduate, Dave played Thunderbird hockey in 1984-85 under the coaching of Fred Masuch. As it happens, Dave has good bloodlines as his father Dave Sr., successful in both athletics and business, was a UBC football star from 1949 through 1951, ultimately being inducted into the UBC Sports Hall of Fame.
After attaining his BPE at UBC, MacFarlane the younger joined HUB International which today is the largest insurance broker in Canada and the tenth-largest in North America. Since starting with HUB over twenty years ago, Dave has evolved to the point where he is now Senior VP and Chief Sales Officer, developing numerous programs while at the same time being responsible for business development and revenue results, which he has increased significantly.
Dave is also involved with the Aga Khan Foundation Canada and serves as Chair of its World Partnership Walk and Partnership Golf. He is also a past trustee of the BC Sports Hall of Fame and currently coaches minor hockey and basketball.
Sports and physical activity have always been a big part of Dave’s life, but because he is so engaging and dedicated he has excelled in the insurance field. With his educational background and his nature, he is always willing to motivate and mentor others.
Written by Fred Hume, UBC Historian
Master of Physical Education, 1961
The late and great May Brown, who first taught physical education at UBC then later attained her Masters in Physical Education, is one of this School’s most revered individuals. She was a life-long supporter of physical education, fitness and recreation which included founding and directing boy’s camps, extensive work with the YWCA and YMCA, serving as president of the Canadian Camping Association.
For decades May was an advocate for UBC sports particularly women’s field hockey and swimming, both of which she coached at UBC during the late 1940s and early 1950s. She reached such esteem that UBC created the May Brown Trophy which is awarded annually to the Outstanding Graduating Female Athlete of the Year.
After serving as a faculty member in UBC Physical Education during its initial years, May achieved her Masters in Phys. Ed. at UBC in 1961. While she taught and coached at UBC it could be said she began UBC’s field hockey dynasty which has so successfully continued through to the present. Team loyalty and accountability were among the qualities instilled by coach Brown.
May’s varied contributions to our community included a high profile career in politics. She was elected Vancouver Park Board Commissioner from 1973 through 1976 and she served on Vancouver City Council for ten years.
The ever-popular and deeply respected May Brown has been acknowledged by so many, including a UBC Alumni Achievement Award, Sport BC Award, UBC and BC Sports Halls of Fame, YWCA Woman of Distinction, the Order of British Columbia and the Order of Canada among others. According to one of her former players, “May Brown was wonderful! The sun rose and set on her.”
Written by Fred Hume, UBC Historian
Stephanie Jameson, a 2006 UBC Kinesiology graduate, experienced an exceptional Thunderbird athletic career as a field hockey player under coach Hash Kanjee. Not only was she a luminary in this sport but is also unique in that her mother, Sue Rich, was also a field hockey standout preceding Stephanie as a Physical Education (Kinesiology) graduate in 1973.
This particular mother/daughter combination both in the classroom and on the field represents one of the more impressive UBC two-generation resumes. Sue in the 1970s was stellar. In each of the three years she played for the Blue & Gold – under coach “Bim” Schrodt – UBC won the Canada West championship. At this time National CIS championships for this sport were not contested depriving Sue of this possible honour.
Meanwhile Stephanie did play on three CIS champion field hockey teams, in 2001, 2003 and 2004, was also four times selected to the CIS Championship tournament All-Star team and in 2002 was named CIS tournament MVP. Three times she was a first-team All-Canadian, four times a Canada West All-Star and in 2001 won the Gail Wilson Award for her dedication, loyalty and inspiration. 2004 and 2005 were big years for Stephanie. In 2004 she was the MVP for the entire CIS and was honoured as the Sport BC Athlete of the Year. In 2005 she was presented field hockey’s Joan Livesey Award in addition to the Marilyn Pomfret Award as UBC’s female athlete of the year. To top it off, Stephanie excelled in the classroom, as she was named Academic All-Canadian in all five of her years at UBC.
As it happens, a third member of the Jameson family, Stephanie’s younger sister Kathryn, is also a UBC hockey player having just completed her fourth year under coach Kanjee. She also has an impressive resume having played on three CIS champions and four Canada West winners. It is interesting to note that mother and two daughters collectively have attained ten Canada West championships and six CIS national titles.
Photo Courtesy of UBC Thunderbirds
Fred Hume, UBC Historian
One of the best known names in Canadian basketball is 1969 UBC Physical Education (Kinesiology) graduate Ken Shields. Ken, along with his wife Kathy, both played Varsity Thunderbird basketball during the late 1960s with Ken quickly moving on to the coaching ranks co-coaching the UBC women’s Varsity basketball team in1969/70. In fact, this team which had Kathy on its roster, was both Canadian university and Canadian Senior ‘A’ Champions this season and is an inductee in the UBC Sports Hall of Fame.
Shields’ highlights are many. From 1978 through 1989 he was Varsity head coach at the University of Victoria, winning an amazing seven consecutive CIS men’s basketball titles and four CIS Coach of the Year awards. Despite being UBC graduates, both Ken and Kathy Shields were not just nationally acclaimed but have since become “icons” on the campus of the University of Victoria.
Ken also coached Canada’s men’s national team for five years and in 1986 was integral in the establishment of the Canadian National Coaching Institute. He was the founding president of the Commonwealth Centre for Sport Development and was instrumental in the creation of high performance sport training centres. He has also served as a guest basketball coach for five other nations during his career including Britain’s national team for the 2012 Olympics.
Shields has been recognized not only for his outstanding coaching record but for his leadership in Canadian university sports, his work behind the scenes with the Commonwealth Games and his work with the coaching fraternity. He is inducted as an individual into the University of Victoria, Basketball BC and Canadian Basketball Halls of Fame and is a member of the Order of Canada. In 2013 both Ken and Kathy Shields were inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame.
Written by Fred Hume, UBC Historian
In the words of 1966 Physical Education graduate Roger McKay, “I have a lot to thank UBC for.” Prior to his 30 year career in teaching and coaching, Roger benefitted from UBC life, taking his courses from great teachers, being a member of Delta Upsilon Fraternity plus playing briefly for the UBC Braves J.V. basketball team under the coaching of the legendary, colourful, Peter Mullins. In addition, Roger received the top student award for the Phys. Ed. graduating class of 1966.
At Oliver BC’s Southern Okanagan High School, Roger commenced in 1966 his career as a teacher, counsellor and coach also serving as the school’s Vice Principal from 1982 until retiring in 1996. During those years he was also instrumental in forming one of BC’s most successful basketball camps as well as sports leagues for youngsters, among the reasons the South Okanagan has done so well in the sport of basketball.
Meanwhile Roger’s son, Spencer, has been named UBC Thunderbird basketball’s Assistant Coach. During the late 1980s and early 1990s Spencer was one of Canada’s best university basketball players, benefitting from his dad’s coaching and sport camps. Raised in Oliver, Spencer, while starring at the University of Victoria, was five times selected Canada West All-Star and three times All-Canadian. He spent 16 years playing pro basketball in eight countries around the world. Even though Spencer was a thorn in UBC’s side while with U. Vic., he, through his father, has roots in UBC and in War Memorial Gym, bringing to the Blue & Gold today, his experience and expertise.
Written by Fred Hume, UBC Historian
SFU Woodward’s Cultural Unit, SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement
Part-time PhD student, European Graduate School (Communication and Media Philosophy)
Board Member, Vancity Community Foundation
Member, Vancouver City Planning Commission Steering Committee, SFU Center for Dialogue
Am Johal works at SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement in the SFU Woodward’s Cultural Unit. He has previously worked on the Vancouver Agreement in urban economic and social development. He was the co-founder of UBC’s Humanities 101 program and was Chair of the Impact on Communities Coalition. He has been an advisor to two provincial cabinet ministers representing Transportation and Highways and Community Development, Cooperatives and Volunteers. He has an undergraduate degree in Human Kinetics (UBC) and Commerce (Royal Roads University), an MA in International Economic Relations from the Institute for Social and European Studies in Hungary and is currently a part-time PhD student in Communication and Media Philosophy at European Graduate School in Switzerland. He is on the steering committee of SFU’s Center for Dialogue, a board member with the Vancity Community Foundation and a member of the Vancouver City Planning Commission.